𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 - Matt Sturniolo

𝟾

✽+†+✽―― what a time ――✽+†+✽
₀₇.₁₀.₂₀₁₉
Cʜᴀɪsᴇ

I was on the phone with my mother via facetime on my aunt's cell phone. I was wondering for a long time whether I should tell my mother about Matt or not.

But then I remembered that she was on the other side of the country and that no matter what she said, I could still do whatever I wanted. As far as my aunt allowed me to, of course.

"What's on your mind, sweetie? I can tell something's up, even through the cell phone." My mom and I weren't really close but we still knew each other very well.

I sighed and brushed my hair behind my ear. "I met a boy here, mom." I told her and looked closely at her reaction. She raised her eyebrows and didn't really look happy about it.

Then she forced herself to smile and adjusted her glasses. "Wow, Chaise. I'm glad to hear that." She tried to be convincing, but I could tell she was lying.

But I hadn't expected anything else. She was disappointed with most of the things I did. I brought home good grades, I played the flute, I didn't drink, I didn't smoke, but that wasn't enough for her. She always let me feel that.

Josh, on the other hand, was her everything. He was her great Joshua, he played football like a champion, it looks like he got a scholarship too. He was perfect in my mom's eyes, even though she knew he sometimes got drunk with his friends and played with girls like they were dolls.

I loved Josh, he was my brother and we got along well most of the time. But I was often jealous because he got the approval from mom that I craved.

"He makes me pretty happy." I said and she nodded. "I'm glad about that. What's his name and is he from Boston?" "His name is Matthew, but everyone just calls him Matt. And yes, he's from here."

"I'm glad, sweetie, but I wouldn't expect so much from this boy. You live in LA, don't forget that, a steady relationship wouldn't work. Especially if you don't have a cell phone." She said. I sighed. Yes, she was right, but it made me angry that she said that without knowing him. So I decided not to tell her that we were already together.

"I know mom. I have plans today so I would hang up now." I said, suppressing my disappointment. "Okay, bye sweetie, have fun." She said and then the screen went black.

I looked out of my window at the sky and took a deep breath. "Are you okay?" asked my aunt, who suddenly came through my open door. I nodded. "Yes. Mom was just like she always is."

"Did you tell her about Matt?" she asked and I handed her cell phone back to her. I nodded. "I told her that I met him but not that we were together. She said it wouldn't work anyway." I told her and pretended that it didn't bother me.

She looked at me sympathetically but I just shook my head. I didn't want any sympathy. "And your dad?" she asked. "He was at work, call me tomorrow or something." I explained.

"Is there ever a day when my brother doesn't work?" she asked, probably to change the subject. I let out a laugh. "Probably not." I said.

My dad worked a lot. He was a real workaholic. Well, he had to be as a doctor, but sometimes I wished he wasn't like that.

My dad never differentiated between me and my brother, he didn't love anyone more or less. He was always proud of me and Josh, no matter what we did. I missed him the most. But it was normal for me to miss him, he was never home in LA.